Facebook Suspends Two Transsexual Advocates for HRC Critical Comments Regarding Misrepresentation, Classism and Disempowerment

 

With a heavy heart I’m involuntarily saying goodbye to my Facebook friends and family. FB suspended me for 24 hours yesterday for standing up for New York’s transsexual and transgender communities by making a non-offensive and journalistically accurate comment about Human Rights Campaign’s close associate Michael Silverman, who is a non-trans white gay male who unbelievably is the director of NY’s largest trans-specific organization, TLDEF, although many qualified trans New Yorkers have expressed interest in the role. I simply expressed how the majority of the local trans* community is upset by this abuse of power of the LGB community feeling entitled to dictate to the trans community what our agenda should be. Alarmingly, another high profile transsexual advocate named Nikki Araguz (widow of fallen Texan firefighter, who then challenged state’s trans laws when they tried to deny her benefits) was also suspended last week for simply questioning HRC’s only trans board member, Meghan Stabler, for selling out the trans community for self-gain, access and financial perks.

I know reporting what happened will give my detractors another invalid reason to falsely “report” me, so I could either be suspended again, or as Facebook threatened me, I could be banned “permanently”. Therefore I wanted to say goodbye to all of you just in case the ol’ boys club of Gay, Inc. succeed in getting rid of what they see as the uncontrollable “angry, uppity, tra**y” who frequently forgets her place and refuses to be a token trans tom.

The powers that be club may take away my Facebook account just for speaking truth, however, unlike what the ill-willed Ursula did to Ariel the Little Mermaid, they will never succeed at taking away my voice, nor will I voluntarily give it away just to spend time in the dark castle.

Please save my email address so we can stay in touch: ashley.equality@gmail.com  

 Along with my email, please know you can contact me through my blog Trans Forming Media: www.transformingmedia.blogspot.com

 And I am still helping with Black Trans* Women’s Lives Matter: www.blacktranswomenslivesmatter.blogspot.com  

 I am disgusted that sinister forces would abuse the reporting process or misuse their insider relationships with Facebook staff to censor freedom of speech and disappointed that trans women’s advocacy could be forcibly assaulted and unjustly imprisoned. Most importantly, I’m saddened that all the friends and co-advocates that I stay in touch with here or have even met through Facebook could be severed from me in this platform. It's deeply personal. As a teenager my family disowned me for being a girl, which is why many of my activist friends are like my chosen family, they are the only family I have, and I love them. If Facebook bans me it will be a more lonely and hopeless world for me, and I will become more isolated from my community and friends. Facebook may have now morphed into an advertising circus for its corporate interests, but for many of us it’s about finding fellowship and kinfolk to come together. It’s about family. As I write this I am becoming very emotional because it’s very triggering to think that I could be excommunicated from my family – again.

 I truly appreciate having you all in my life and am thankful for your friendship and support all these many years, and hope we can stay in touch even if my enemies triumph in robbing me of the main platform that I organize with my community on. The transsexual and intersex communities, LGB allies and feminists have changed my life for the better. You all give me hope.

 Please say a prayer for the Facebook staff to find it in their hearts to stop suspending, banning and censoring transsexual and transgender people simply for speaking the truth. The thing is that the trans* community is relatively small in number and many of us have moments of feeling isolated and alone, which is why the Internet and social media is a vital part of both our personal lives and advocacy campaigns, as we find numbers, solidarity and strength online. And also pray that they reconsider the problematic “reporting process”, as non-trans people are constantly misusing it to silence trans people with dissenting views. Freedom of speech is a gift that is alarmingly becoming compromised in this country.

 Keep up the good work, and know that I am always available, even if ol’ boys club succeed at banishing me.

 Blessing, Besos and Big Hugs, Ashley